Preaching part 1
I've been a preacher for a while. And I don't really do it as much anymore, at this point I'm doing the online thing. But when I first got started in ministry that was my main job: preaching. Standing up in front of people and telling them what I hear God saying to me. Receiving and releasing what God gave to me. That, to me, was what ministry was. But then I can remember very clearly one morning--I did the early morning service and then the senior pastor did the "main" service--I got up there and said, "I want you guys to know that I'm here for you. More than just standing up here and talking at you. I'm not just preacher Tom, I'm Pastor Tom." And I could see the smile on my pastor's face. I mean he lit up. And I'm pretty sure, in retrospect, he was waiting for me to step up. To step into my full capacity. My destiny, as it were. Because preaching the gospel is about more than just reading the Bible and telling people what you think God is saying to you. Look at Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." That's Jesus talking. And think about this, if we're supposed to preach the gospel to every creature, do you think that means we should be holding sermons for the squirrels? Telling the animals what the Bible says? Or do you think there's more to preaching the gospel than just slamming your chicklets together? I think there's more to it. I think we ought to prescribe to the theory that you should preach the gospel at all times, and if we absolutely positively have to... we should use our words. Look at John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Jesus again. Those red letters. Talking about how people would be able to identify us as His followers. Not by what we say... but by what we DO. By the love we have for one another. I don't think there could possibly be a better rap for someone that "He's really nice." Or, "She loves people." That, to me, is better than, "He never misses church on Sunday." And I'm not saying anything bad about church on Sunday. Simply that I'd rather BE the church than go to A church. Go into all the world, right? Or, at the very least, shine the light of love wherever you are. I have a pretty clear path that I use on the daily--from home, to work, back to home. So that's my mission field, as it were. The people at home... and the people at work. Just connecting with the people God has put in my path. And by the way, we currently have two dogs, so I'm doing my part on the "all creatures" part too. But the point of this Rant series is to get us to think outside of the box. Like I had to when I started in the ministry. Preaching the gospel is showing God's love to everything and everybody. Being there for people. Not just doing a "religious job." And, again, I don't have anything against people who do those jobs in or around the churches. Deacons. Custodians. Worship leaders. Musicians. All of them. That's awesome. Do what is in your heart to do. And do it BECAUSE it's in your heart to do it. Preaching is about spreading God's love. That's as simple as I can make it. And we can all do that. No matter where we are or who is around!